BAP neglected its duty to develop RP caging.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Manolo R. Iigo

THE WELL-LOVED sport of basketball is dying in this country mainly because the Basketball Association of the Philippines has continuously failed to develop it effectively. Gone were the days when Filipino cagers were equal and, in some cases, better than their European as well as American counterparts. Gone too were the days when we're almost sure our players would bring home medals in international competitions. Now, our national teams are losing even to the Asian nations that we used to beat before.

The only bright note was provided over the weekend by the RP-San Miguel team that did well in this year's Jones Cup in Taipei. However, I was bothered by the information that some officials of the expelled BAP were reported to have made below-the-belt attempts at blocking the application for Fiba recognition of the newly formed Philippine Basketball Federation.

The PBF, headed by longtime basketball man Moying Martelino, was admitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee as a legitimate national sports association last July 27 in much the same way the BAP was expelled by a vast majority of NSA members during the POC general assembly. Thirty-three NSAs voted for expulsion, two voted against while one abstained.

Although the expulsion of the BAP did not sit well with some quarters, the POC had no other recourse but to render the harsh decision because the BAP had asked for it. You see, the POC general assembly was offended by BAP officials who showed their disrespect to the ...